An ongoing look at the highlights, recent acquisitions, and news from the Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University Libraries

Friday, October 25, 2013

Messages of cheer

The 1940 census shows that Richard Ferchaud (1919-2003)
of New Orleans lived with his older sister Marguerite Ferchaud (1909-1988) at 1933
Cambronne St., where she received his many letters written while in the Army
during World War II. Lt. Ferchaud served in the 3rd Armored
Division's 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
He was seriously wounded in France in 1944, and received a Purple
Heart. He recovered and resumed active military
service.

Richard Ferchaud's correspondence to his sister back home
is conversational and lighthearted. Quite
a few of the messages are in the form of "V-Mails", or “V-Letters”, a
format involving photostatic reductions of handwritten notes. Although injured himself, he expressed himself
in an upbeat manner, even when describing his boredom.

Richard Ferchaud
Papers (LaRC Manuscripts Collection 167) will be a useful resource for
researchers with an interest in World War II and the social styles of mid-twentieth
century America. As with most archival
collections of wartime letters, sentiments of affection and courage are carefully
preserved.

Captions: August 1944
telegram sent to Marguerite Ferchaud in New Orleans, informing her of her youngest
brother’s injury in France; “Messages of cheer to Army personnel” form
requesting that the soldier’s emergency addressee send a five-word message of
cheer to the wounded soldier. Images of
items in the Louisiana Research Collection may not be republished without
permission.

Posted by Susanna Powers

Posted by
Tulane University Louisiana Research Collection (LaRC)
at
9:49 AM